Foaling & Foaling Problems

Article

Veterinarians in western Canada report that 2004 has been a disappointing year for many breeders because of an increase in cases of fatal congenital hypothyroidism in foals. Newborns with the disease can exhibit clinical signs such as contracted...
Read More

Article

"With such long necks and long limbs, it's a wonder any foal can be born normally," observed Grant S. Frazer, BVSc, MSc, MBA, Dipl. ACT, associate professor in reproduction at The Ohio State University's College of Veterinary Medicine at the...
Read More

Article

Equine obstetrics is more than "pulling a foal out." At the American College of Theriogenology (ACT) meeting held in August in Lexington, Ky., the basics of this specialty--as practiced with today's advanced capabilities--were defined by Grant S...
Read More

Article

Several problems commonly develop in premature foals, some of which can require some tough decisions by the owner and practitioner. Don't balk at gathering information. Get very detailed histories and take a good look at the placenta....
Read More

Article

The most common reasons a foal might become depressed, Franklin said, include infection, poor nutrition, acidosis (unusually acidic blood from diarrhea), lameness (multiple lamenesses can often depress a foal...
Read More

Article

Riddle said that most mares are outside all of the time or are only brought up for feeding until they reach one month before their expected foaling date. Whatever is preferred, broodmares thrive on routine....
Read More

Article

Incidence of dystocia is around 4%, although this varies by breed, Embertson said. While many dystocias are resolved on the farm, some cases need to be referred to a hospital. This decision should be made based on the position of the foal, duration ...
Read More

Article

Mats Troedsson, DVM, Dipl. ACT, University of Florida (with co-author Walter Zent, DVM, of Lexington, Ky.), discussed clinical ultrasound in evaluation of the equine placenta to identify and treat mares with placentitis. He said placentitis is a...
Read More

Article

I'd like to know more about foals who after being delivered, dried, and rubbed well, quit breathing in 10-20 minutes. We have done resuscitation by blowing into their nostrils and pumping their rib cages, and have rubbed them vigorously. The...
Read More

Article

"Some recent stories have suggested that the Fort Dodge Animal Health West Nile Virus Vaccine approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) may cause pregnant mares to abort or give birth to deformed foals. The...
Read More

Article

Despite recent media reports, Wyoming, Colorado, and USDA veterinarians say that there is currently no scientific proof to link the West Nile virus vaccine to aborted, stillborn, or deformed foals, and that horse owners should continue to...
Read More

Article

Veterinarians and researchers trying to pinpoint the cause of mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS) have joined together to create an MRLS "think tank," the progress and goals of which were discussed April 1 at a joint meeting of the Kentucky...
Read More

Article

Lady's Secret, 1986 Horse of the Year and the richest female at one time, died March 4 from complications from foaling a General Meeting colt at Jack Liebau and Tom Capehart's Valley Creek Farm near Valley Center, Calif. The Thoroughbred mare’s...
Read More

Article

A bacteria that causes weight loss, colic, diarrhea, and hypoproteinemia (abnormally low protein in the blood) in foals is being seen more often in North America and Europe. The affected foals are usually four to eight months old, but can be...
Read More

Article

The results of a survey conducted by the University of Kentucky's Gluck Equine Research Center and College of Agriculture showed that a small number of Thoroughbred and other farms experienced an unusual increase in what is being termed fal...
Read More

Article

The reproduction session at the annual AAEP meeting in Orlando, Fla., was something of an A to Z seminar with an international flavor. It started with speakers from North America presenting discussions on endometrial echotexture (ultrasound...
Read More

Article

In defining a high-risk mare, Bain said she is one which has had previous foaling problems such as dystocia (difficult delivery), hemorrhage, or a red bag delivery. He said a mare also could be at risk because of medical illness, surgery, colic...
Read More

Article

The “blip” of abortions seen in August, September, and October in Kentucky has continued on through December. With only about 50 total abortions reported, this problem might not even catch the attention of many people in a normal year, as...
Read More

Article

Some New York breeding farms have experienced an unusual number of foaling problems so far this breeding season, and slightly higher incidences of sickness and herpesvirus abortions. There is evidence to suggest a slight connection between the...
Read More

Article

Each year throughout the United States, mares lose their pregnancies due to placentitis or an infection in the placenta. Placentitis causes lesions in the placenta, which provides nourishment from the mare to the fetus. When that nourishment is...
Read More

Article

According to an Associated Press report, two men charged in the killing of 34 wild horses in the hills east of Reno, Nev., pleaded no contest Jan. 7 to single gross misdemeanor counts, and a third defendant pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor....
Read More